September 2024 - A Dabbled Dwelling

Does anyone else have outdoor toys that desperately need a home? Maybe it’s just me. Between the driveway and the house is an unofficial parking lot for all of the kids bikes and scooters. It looks like the place that toys come to die and it drives me crazy. I needed a way to corral all the toys in a way that went with the house.

Building a Bike Shed

We decided to build a bike shed that looks like it’s part of the house. The first step was to anchor a pressure treated 2×6 into the studs of the house using lag screws. Then we, I mean my husband, dug 3 post holes, one for each corner and a third for the door opening. We mixed the cement in the holes and sank the pressure treated 4x4s in the holes making sure they were level. We used three additional pressure treated 2x6s to attach to the 2×4 on the house and the posts with lag screws. I found some sheet siding to enclose it and attached it to the sides using my nail gun. Then I used 1x4s to frame the siding and create a fun little diamond detail at the top.

We put 1x6s along the 2x6s at the top to create a roof. To help keep rain out we stair stepped the 1x6s so the water would flow down instead of going through cracks. I live in the Houston area and that means humidity, and humidity means mold and mildew. Before I painted I used Kilz Mold and Mildew Exterior Primer to help keep the humidity from eating my wood. Then I painted the whole thing to go with the house and viola!

A woman in pink leggings watches a man dig holes while sipping from a cup

A woman in pink leggings checks a post to see if it’s level

A woman adds siding and trim to a bike shed

A woman swings from a bike shed structure

A woman hands a man a board to build a roof

It Looks Like It Belongs

Once it was done we moved all of the bikes and outdoor toys into it. I even added a cute little planter made from an old wheel. It looks like a part of the house which is a win for me. I love that it looks like it was always meant to be there and it keeps the eyesore of kids toys put away.

My bathroom renovation included the most gorgeous free standing tub. Only problem was that it was in the way of the door to the toilet room swinging freely. My favorite solution to doors in tight spaces is to install a pocket door. Installing a pocket door is a great way to save space and add convenience. Unlike traditional hinged doors, pocket doors slide into a wall compartment when opened, freeing up floor space and giving rooms a more open feel.

Installing a Pocket Door

I like these pocket door kits from Amazon. They come with all of the hardware needed for a pocket door. I decided to use the old door since it already fits my aesthetic. Doors are available in various materials and finishes, so you can pick any one that fits your interior. I like to ensure that the wall where I plan to install the pocket door is free of electrical wiring, plumbing, or other obstructions. Then I use a stud finder to locate studs because I will need to cut through some of them to install the door frame.

I remove the door and then use a pry bar to remove any trim around the door opening. Then I remove the drywall around the door frame and from the part of the wall where the pocket will go. Once the drywall is removed I’ll need to modify the wall structure to create a space for the door to slide into. I cut out the wall studs in the section where the pocket will be installed. Then I take out the original door frame. For this door I added new jack studs to the sides of the opening. The jack studs are the height of the door and are added for me to install the track of the pocket door kit on.

A man demos a wall to install a pocket door

A Pocket Door Kit Makes This So Easy

Then I assemble the pocket door frame, which comes with the kit. I install it inside the opening, ensuring the frame is level and square. When it’s level and square I use wood screws to secure the frame to the remaining wall studs. The pocket door track gets installed on the jack studs inside the pocket I built. It allows the door to slide smoothly into the wall. The track in this kit is kind of like a drawer slide. It’s a soft close slide and that part is what the door hangs from to slide back and forth.

After the track is installed I attach the hooks to the top of the door. Those go into the track for the door to hang from. It’s also important to remember to install a door stop on the inside of the pocket to avoid losing your door in the wall. I usually just add a wood block to stop the door at the edge of the frame. When all that is done it’s as easy as mounting the door. You can adjust the height to make sure the doo hangs correctly and slides with ease.

A man shows the track for a pocket door.

A man installs the track on top of jack studs for a pocket door

Showing off the hardware on top of the door for a pocket door

Now To Put It All Back Together

The pocket door is a success, but it’s not finished until there is a whole wall again. I hang the drywall by screwing it into the studs. Then I use drywall mud and paper drywall tape to mud screw holes and seams. The doorway needs to be reframed next. I went with my usual craftsman trim and made sure to sandwich the door well while leaving a slot on the inside of the door frame.

When the mud is dry the drywall will need to be sanded smooth, I hate sanding drywall because it’s a huge mess. For some spaces dry sanding with sandpaper is best, and for others you can use a damp tile sponge to sand the drywall smooth. After sanding I finished off the wall with paint and the seams with caulk. Down to the final touches all I had left to do was to add hardware.

A woman is adding drywall to finish a wall where a pocket door was added

A woman adds trim to either side of a pocket door

A woman on a stool uses a nail gun to add trim to a door

It Was Worth Installing a Pocket Door

I am so much closer to getting to enjoy my bathroom! The pocket door allows me better use of the space near the bathtub. It was so easy to install and is such a simple addition to the bathroom. I don’t have to worry about the door hitting the bathtub and I can use all of the floor space in my bathroom. It is gorgeous and slides so nicely, I love it!